Unreal opens at the Warrnambool Art Gallery on Saturday, October 13, and celebrates the work of one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors and Warrnambool icon, Paul Jennings.

The show will feature original artworks by illustrators such as Geoff Kelly, Jane Tanner, Terry Denton and Keith McEwan.

It will also include interactive elements paying homage to some of Jennings’ most iconic stories.

The desk at which he penned many of his bestsellers is also part of the exhibition.

Jennings was full of praise for his illustrators, with the wacky images adorning his book covers as famous as some of the tales within them.

“Sometimes I gasp in awe and surprise at the unique view illustrators bring to a story. I am envious,” he said.

He said that the exhibition was a celebration of childhood culture.

“The way I look at it is that children have their own culture and it's the last culture to be recognised,” he said.

“Our people need to know that our culture's worth writing stories about, and it's particularly so for children.

“They should know you can have an adventure in Belgrave or Frankston or Perth.”

Warrnambool Art Gallery Director Vanessa Gerrans said that the gallery was proud to host the first major Paul Jennings exhibition in Australia.

“Unreal combines quirky illustrations with a sense of childhood discovery and wonder in a relatable, yet unique way – much like Jennings’ books themselves,” she said.

“This is not an exhibition to slowly pace through analysing each piece. It’s meant to be explored and interacted with.”

With the exhibition running until February 24, Ms Gerrans said that she was looking forward to the influx of summer holidaymakers and day-trippers.

“With more than eight million books sold and stories translated in 18 languages, Paul Jennings has been a part of the literary lives of so many young people around the world.

“Paul has said himself that summers in Warrnambool have played a big part in his life, and I’m looking forward to Paul’s work having an equally positive impact on the upcoming summer for the thousands of people who attend the exhibition.”

Jennings will officially open the exhibition on Saturday October 20 at a free community event that will coincide with the launch of his latest book, A Different Boy.